After downloading the image, you can create an installation SD card or Flash Drive following these instructions. Or you can create an installation flash drive or DVD by using the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool (which works with other versions of Windows too). Or you can use the ISO file to run a portable version of Windows from a flash drive. If you plan on doing a clean reinstall, make sure to check out our article on collecting your software product keys, including your Windows key. Note: One caveat is if your computer came with Windows 7 installed, the OEM key on the sticker on the bottom of your computer won’t work. Also, remember that you can create install media for Windows 8.1 and download the ISO for the latest tech preview build of Windows 10 (9926). The usual thing with OEM software, is on the PC it comes with, there is a “Create re-installation CDs” or Re-Imaging… You should ALWAYS do this with new laptops and PCs. Damn MS for not giving you CDs like what happened up until Vista. Be prepared, as one day your PC will be in drastic need of formatting and recovering data. Comment Name * Email *
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